The Senate Public Accounts Committee conducted an inquiry on Tuesday with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun regarding the troubling issue of 178,459 missing firearms and claims of N1.1 billion in contract splitting within the Nigeria Police Force.
During the session, Egbetokun expressed regret for not attending previous meetings, attributing his absence to the demands of his role. To ensure proper representation, he introduced Assistant Inspector General of Police Abdul Sulaiman to the committee. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) accepted the IGP’s apology, highlighting the importance of accountability in leadership.
An Auditor General’s report from 2019 presented to the committee revealed that a significant quantity of firearms, including 88,078 AK-47 rifles, were unaccounted for as of late 2018. This raised serious concerns that these missing weapons could have been acquired by criminals, further complicating Nigeria’s security challenges.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) connected the rise in insecurity to the unaccounted firearms, emphasizing the risks posed to both citizens and police officers. He remarked that the public deserves clarity on the fate of weapons funded by taxpayer money.
In response, AIG Sulaiman explained that some firearms were lost during robbery incidents while others were taken by criminals after attacking police personnel. However, a review of police records indicated that only 15 out of 3,907 listed missing firearms involved officers who were injured or killed in action.
Under rigorous questioning, AIG Sulaiman requested more time to prepare a comprehensive report on the missing firearms, asserting that he believes no firearms are truly unaccounted for.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) voiced frustration over the police’s responses, insisting that those responsible for the missing weapons should be identified and face legal consequences. He stressed that these arms, intended for public protection, have instead ended up in the wrong hands.
The committee also addressed eight audit queries related to contract irregularities, including the alleged contract splitting worth N1.1 billion, which violates Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act. The police have been instructed to clarify these irregularities.
The Senate Committee has scheduled another meeting with the IGP for February 17, 2025, to present a detailed report on the missing firearms and the contract issues.
